Our Field Day on Friday was a great success with fun water activities. The first graders behaved wonderfully! Thank you so much, Hannah Sullivant and Susan Sellers, for helping at this event.
This coming week we have several things to remember:
May 21, Tuesday evening - the End-of-School Programs (first graders should arrive by 6:15 and report to the music room for warm-ups). Program begins at 6:30 pm. Ms. Boyd has asked that all children wear a white shirt/blouse (with no print on them, please), and khaki bottoms (pants, shorts and skirts). Please invite friends and family to show what CCS students are all about!
May 23, Thursday 10am - First graders will visit the Fish Bowl, a unique pet store featuring fish as well as interesting reptiles. Let me know on the field trip permission slip if you are available to transport students around the corner to this store (at the corner of 5th and Adams). We will be there only until 11:15, because the children don't want to miss their Art class at 11:30.
May 24, Friday 10:30am - The Zoo-Man will visit our school and bring "his friends" to delight us even more.
The Stanford Test results are due back on campus this coming week, so if you would like help interpreting them or want an additional conference time, please notify me. If there is something we both feel your student needs to brush up on during the summer, I will send you an email with some suggestions. For the most part, however, I regard these results as a baseline with which to compare future yearly tests, rather than as a comparison of your child with other students.
FINAL SPELLING LIST FOR THE YEAR:
face, place, space, cage, page, stage, May, blouse, mouse, house, glove, shove
FINAL SYNONYM PAIRS LIST: (Review Quiz over 9 synonym pairs on Wed, May 29)
reply….answer lucky……fortunate try……sample
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Please remember that the projects for the Science Fair are due on TUESDAY Morning, MAY 14. Mrs. Shaw will be at the entrance of the school receiving the materials for the displays. The judges will spend the next two days reviewing the projects which will be presented at the special Science and Latin Night on Thursday evening, May 16. All participants of the Science Fair will be recognized for their hard work. Please invite friends and family to enjoy the evening with us!
Tomorrow, Monday, May 13, the Kindergarten and First grade classes will be going to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. Students may wear their school t-shirts with jeans/shorts and comfortable shoes. We will have a wonderful relaxing day exploring the habitats.
On Friday, May 17, Leslie Pipes will lead our CCS Field Day, and she would appreciate any parents to help coordinate the various stations. Please contact her during this week if you are able to help. This event will only be during the morning hours, so hopefully everything will be concluded before the heat of the day begins.
Spelling Words for the Week:
live, eight, old, hold, write, bloom, broom, good, stood, book, shook, took
Synonym Pairs:
intersect....cross lightening bugs.....fireflies explore....investigate
Happy Mother's Day,
Mrs. E
Tomorrow, Monday, May 13, the Kindergarten and First grade classes will be going to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. Students may wear their school t-shirts with jeans/shorts and comfortable shoes. We will have a wonderful relaxing day exploring the habitats.
On Friday, May 17, Leslie Pipes will lead our CCS Field Day, and she would appreciate any parents to help coordinate the various stations. Please contact her during this week if you are able to help. This event will only be during the morning hours, so hopefully everything will be concluded before the heat of the day begins.
Spelling Words for the Week:
live, eight, old, hold, write, bloom, broom, good, stood, book, shook, took
Synonym Pairs:
intersect....cross lightening bugs.....fireflies explore....investigate
Happy Mother's Day,
Mrs. E
Saturday, May 4, 2013
A new chick was born on Wednesday of last week to the first grade class! Her name is Sophia, and the students are overwhelmingly in love with her. We opened the remainder of the eggs that were left in the incubator on Friday, (I was carefully watching the students' reactions so as not to traumatize anyone), and surprisingly most of the eggs were not even fertilized. Nevertheless, our "Oviparous" unit has been a huge success. We are still observing the tadpoles (several have their hind legs already), and the ant lion larvae are getting fat on the juicy ants we feed them every week. By the end of the school year, we will have a group of very observant naturalists!
Muffins for Moms will be celebrated Friday morning. Please join us on that day, so that we may honor you. The students would love to show you all the critters we have in our classroom, too!
Spelling words for the week:
April, once, done, growl, flower, cowboy, town, brown, below, snow, yellow, rainbow
Synonym Pairs:
evaporation - drying up birds - fowl alone - solitary
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Muffins for Moms will be celebrated Friday morning. Please join us on that day, so that we may honor you. The students would love to show you all the critters we have in our classroom, too!
Spelling words for the week:
April, once, done, growl, flower, cowboy, town, brown, below, snow, yellow, rainbow
Synonym Pairs:
evaporation - drying up birds - fowl alone - solitary
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Only five more weeks of school are left! I told the students that right after the last day is over, they will be SECOND GRADERS! And then…tomorrow…they will be graduating from high school… The years sometime feel to move that fast. The students have grown up so much since last August when we met for the first time. I will cherish these last few weeks that I have with them.
On May 13th (a Monday) a field trip is scheduled to Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. Please check your calendars and sign up to help transport students on this outing. I would appreciate as many helpers as possible, so that I can enjoy the zoo as well (instead of having to count to nine about a hundred times during the day!) When you sign the permission slip for that field trip, please indicate whether or not you are able to accompany us and how many people your vehicle can accommodate (for students - back seats only). The children enjoy your presence very much, and I am so grateful for your help.
On Friday of this coming week, May 3rd, we will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, (the fifth of May) which is the anniversary of a famous battle in Mexican history (fought against the French) in 1882. Here at CCS we will enjoy a performance of folklorico dancing at 9 a.m., and everyone is invited to wear festive and colorful clothing on that day. VIVA MEXICO !
These spelling words and synonyms are the same from last week (because of Stanford testing.)
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for Synonym Pairs (Quiz on Friday, May 3rd):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck egg laying-oviparous stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy run-flee
end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E
On May 13th (a Monday) a field trip is scheduled to Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. Please check your calendars and sign up to help transport students on this outing. I would appreciate as many helpers as possible, so that I can enjoy the zoo as well (instead of having to count to nine about a hundred times during the day!) When you sign the permission slip for that field trip, please indicate whether or not you are able to accompany us and how many people your vehicle can accommodate (for students - back seats only). The children enjoy your presence very much, and I am so grateful for your help.
On Friday of this coming week, May 3rd, we will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, (the fifth of May) which is the anniversary of a famous battle in Mexican history (fought against the French) in 1882. Here at CCS we will enjoy a performance of folklorico dancing at 9 a.m., and everyone is invited to wear festive and colorful clothing on that day. VIVA MEXICO !
These spelling words and synonyms are the same from last week (because of Stanford testing.)
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for Synonym Pairs (Quiz on Friday, May 3rd):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck egg laying-oviparous stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy run-flee
end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Last week was a difficult week for our nation. The Boston Marathon bombing and the West explosion gave me a brief feeling of despair. Fred Rogers, a personal hero of mine for the last 50 years, encouraged me this week with his wise words "...look to all the helpers...(in a disaster)." The first responders and brave individuals who put others before their own safety give us hope and encouragement. My prayer is that if/when we are called on to do the same, there will be no hesitation on our part. It is true that tribulation brings us closer to God and to each other, and it makes us feel stronger to face troubles in our lives. I deliberately chose not to mention the disasters of the week in our classroom, but I asked God to show me how, under heaven, I could make this a positive experience for my first graders. He answered me this morning in our worship service.
Brady is a kindergarten student in West, Texas. He is being raised by his grandparents who were watching a fertilizer plant fire with him from a large window in their home. The subsequent explosion has sent them all to the hospital with possible vision loss. Brady was sent to a hospital in Dallas where he has been accompanied by his kindergarten teacher and her husband (members of my church) for the last week. I will ask my first graders to write cards and draw pictures of encouragement to Brady as he courageously faces what few people his age ever have to. So Monday morning, our first graders will be invited to help take part in making the world a better place.
If you need any help organizing your research for the science fair project, please contact Tenille Shaw. She is ready to give information that will help you understand the scientific method which scientists use to test ideas. (First graders will only be responsible for a part of the scientific method.) Right now is the time to enlist her help. Please do not wait until right before the fair to ask for information from her.
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for these 12 Synonym Pairs: (Quiz on Friday, April 26th):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck oviparous - egg-laying stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy
run-flee end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E.
Brady is a kindergarten student in West, Texas. He is being raised by his grandparents who were watching a fertilizer plant fire with him from a large window in their home. The subsequent explosion has sent them all to the hospital with possible vision loss. Brady was sent to a hospital in Dallas where he has been accompanied by his kindergarten teacher and her husband (members of my church) for the last week. I will ask my first graders to write cards and draw pictures of encouragement to Brady as he courageously faces what few people his age ever have to. So Monday morning, our first graders will be invited to help take part in making the world a better place.
If you need any help organizing your research for the science fair project, please contact Tenille Shaw. She is ready to give information that will help you understand the scientific method which scientists use to test ideas. (First graders will only be responsible for a part of the scientific method.) Right now is the time to enlist her help. Please do not wait until right before the fair to ask for information from her.
Spelling Words for the Week:
warm, walk, give, cloud, loud, proud, found, ground, sound, mouth, south, out
Review Week for these 12 Synonym Pairs: (Quiz on Friday, April 26th):
brisk-quick story-yarn food-chuck oviparous - egg-laying stop-terminate
change-transformation climb-ascend climb down-descend clean-tidy
run-flee end-conclusion weatherman-meteorologist
Blessings,
Mrs. E.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
This week first graders are completing science units on "Vertebrates vs. Invertebrates" and "Who is Oviparous?" For the remainder of April, we will focus on weather patterns and the unique properties of water. As you check weather forecasts to plan your daily activities, allow your students to hear what the meteorologists are predicting, and then together you can see if the weather is usually or usually not what is expected.
Thank you, Grandparents and beloved family members, for coming to our Grandparents Day celebration on Friday. The children did a superb job on their program! They also enjoyed sharing what they have learned in the classroom very much. You made the day very special for us as well.
This week we will review test-taking skills to prepare for the Stanford Tests next week (April 23-25.) First graders have been doing several SuperKids language tests throughout the year, so there should not be any trouble transferring those skills to the Stanford. Please be diligent to make sure your student gets enough rest each night and that he/she eats a protein rich breakfast, especially on test days. These tests are not timed, and so we will give each student the sufficient time required to complete each part. A protein breakfast will give them stamina and help them focus. I will do my part to help keep them relaxed and gently motivated with frequent breaks and little "surprises" throughout the mornings. (Test taking can even be fun, as students get to show off what they know.) I am very proud of everyone, and I know they will all do their very best!
Spelling Words for the Week:
collar, dollar, forward, word, world, worm, actor, early, earn, earth, caterpillar, calendar
Synonym Pairs:
run…….....flee end…….conclusion weatherman…………meteorologist
Please do not forget to return the signed permission slip this week for our field trip to Walker Park on Monday, April 22.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Thank you, Grandparents and beloved family members, for coming to our Grandparents Day celebration on Friday. The children did a superb job on their program! They also enjoyed sharing what they have learned in the classroom very much. You made the day very special for us as well.
This week we will review test-taking skills to prepare for the Stanford Tests next week (April 23-25.) First graders have been doing several SuperKids language tests throughout the year, so there should not be any trouble transferring those skills to the Stanford. Please be diligent to make sure your student gets enough rest each night and that he/she eats a protein rich breakfast, especially on test days. These tests are not timed, and so we will give each student the sufficient time required to complete each part. A protein breakfast will give them stamina and help them focus. I will do my part to help keep them relaxed and gently motivated with frequent breaks and little "surprises" throughout the mornings. (Test taking can even be fun, as students get to show off what they know.) I am very proud of everyone, and I know they will all do their very best!
Spelling Words for the Week:
collar, dollar, forward, word, world, worm, actor, early, earn, earth, caterpillar, calendar
Synonym Pairs:
run…….....flee end…….conclusion weatherman…………meteorologist
Please do not forget to return the signed permission slip this week for our field trip to Walker Park on Monday, April 22.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, April 7, 2013
What a refreshing week of cool weather we had last week! The children enjoyed play time outside so much. Their observations of the natural world have stepped up to a whole new level as we have carefully watched various organisms in our classroom go through their spring transformations. It is wonderful to see students use knowledge they already have acquired to ask questions about new things.
Friday we enjoyed a special concert by David Holt. It was a very fitting way to close our western unit. Mr. Holt shared folk music and stories for an hour and the students hardly blinked. We learned how to play the "spoons," so you should be hearing beautiful percussion music at home as a result.
The first graders made chili for lunch, and it was delicious. You will find this recipe in the Texas Book, since it is the Texas State Dish!
Spelling Words for the week:
right, wash, light, joint, point, toyshop, softly, sadly, sleepily, happily, carefully, cheerfully
Synonym Pairs:
Climb (up)…..ascend climb down…….descend clean……tidy
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Friday we enjoyed a special concert by David Holt. It was a very fitting way to close our western unit. Mr. Holt shared folk music and stories for an hour and the students hardly blinked. We learned how to play the "spoons," so you should be hearing beautiful percussion music at home as a result.
The first graders made chili for lunch, and it was delicious. You will find this recipe in the Texas Book, since it is the Texas State Dish!
Spelling Words for the week:
right, wash, light, joint, point, toyshop, softly, sadly, sleepily, happily, carefully, cheerfully
Synonym Pairs:
Climb (up)…..ascend climb down…….descend clean……tidy
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, March 31, 2013
You may have noticed a science packet in your student's YCF last Friday. Our new science teacher is organizing a science fair for the month of May, and she prepared information for our first grade families to investigate what project would be interesting for them. The first deadline for you is explained in the packet, and requires you to have selected the topic for your student's project. Families with multiple students at CCS need only prepare one project with all siblings participating in some way. If you have any questions, please direct them to Ms. Tenille….her contact info is in the packet.
Please don't forget to return the parent-signed report cards when we return to school.
Spelling Words for the Week:
March, kind, buy, find, oil, soil, spoil, boy, joy, toy, careful, cheerful
Synonym Pairs:
oviparous….egg-laying stop……terminate change…..transformation
Happy Spring!
Mrs. E.
Please don't forget to return the parent-signed report cards when we return to school.
Spelling Words for the Week:
March, kind, buy, find, oil, soil, spoil, boy, joy, toy, careful, cheerful
Synonym Pairs:
oviparous….egg-laying stop……terminate change…..transformation
Happy Spring!
Mrs. E.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Welcome back to school! Spring Break is a wonderful way to recharge our batteries to finish the school year strong in the last few weeks. Students always return eager to see friends and share experiences, and we all can enjoy God's beautiful spring weather as outdoor activities are so comfortable at this time of year. The students will return to an interesting "First grade ZOO!" I have collected various samples of animals for the children to observe in the classroom during these spring months, as I have done for every spring season since my own children were small. We will observe tadpoles turn into frogs, ants build a farm, earthworms churn soil, ant lion beetle larvae make a trap, and I'm on the lookout for Monarchs' eggs and caterpillars to watch as they go through their grand transformation…I don't think they have migrated northward yet. Please let me know if you see any in your yard.
Our Texas Books will not go home until the week after Easter. If we rush through too many of the Texas lessons, the students may not remember what they have learned. Thank you for all the denim you sent in for this project. You will be so pleased with all the hard work your students invested.
For our Bible lessons this week, we will read about what Jesus did on each day of the Passion Week. I hope these stories will come alive for our first graders, as they recognize the importance of this Easter holy day to our Christian faith. Remember to send in the two dozen eggs (by Wednesday, March 27th) as described in the previous post. One of those dozens will be used for the Easter Bible lesson on Thursday. Thank you to Julie Bolin for helping me with this celebration.
Spelling Words for the Week:
laugh, both, again, fern, stern, perfect, person, bird, third, purple, burn, turn
Synonym Pairs:
brisk…quick story….yarn food…chuck
Happy Resurrection Day,
Mrs. E
Our Texas Books will not go home until the week after Easter. If we rush through too many of the Texas lessons, the students may not remember what they have learned. Thank you for all the denim you sent in for this project. You will be so pleased with all the hard work your students invested.
For our Bible lessons this week, we will read about what Jesus did on each day of the Passion Week. I hope these stories will come alive for our first graders, as they recognize the importance of this Easter holy day to our Christian faith. Remember to send in the two dozen eggs (by Wednesday, March 27th) as described in the previous post. One of those dozens will be used for the Easter Bible lesson on Thursday. Thank you to Julie Bolin for helping me with this celebration.
Spelling Words for the Week:
laugh, both, again, fern, stern, perfect, person, bird, third, purple, burn, turn
Synonym Pairs:
brisk…quick story….yarn food…chuck
Happy Resurrection Day,
Mrs. E
Friday, March 8, 2013
As you may have already heard, our Walker Park Clean-Up Day has been moved to Friday, March 15th, and that day will also be Early Release at 11:45am. Jeans and School T-shirts are appropriate for this work day.
Our Texas Unit Study is going very well. Students enjoy learning new facts about their state and sharing what they already know about places they have visited on vacations and field trips. Our science unit study on vertebrates and invertebrates coincides quite nicely with the Texas Unit as we learn about the vertebrates of Texas…ie the large state mammal is the longhorn, etc.
We will return from Spring Break to Passion Week and the wonderful Easter Story. First graders will make their very own "Resurrection Eggs" visual aid so that they can share the story with family and friends. So, in preparation for this lesson and the egg hunt, please send the following:
1~ One dozen EMPTY plastic eggs numbered 1 - 12 in an egg carton.
2~ One dozen CANDY/TREAT-FILLED plastic eggs labeled with names of students in the following way: one egg labeled for each of the nine students in our class. Then the remaining 3 eggs are labeled with your student's name (Your student will actually have 4 eggs total with his/her name.) These eggs will be used for the Resurrection Egg Hunt on Thursday, March 28th. These eggs can be sent in a bag…a carton is not necessary. (If you fill the eggs with candy, please make sure each candy is individually wrapped securely to prevent ants from getting into it.)
Please ask if these instructions are not clear. The two dozen plastic eggs are due at school by Wednesday, March 27th. Students should also bring a bag or basket to collect their eggs during the hunt. Thank you for always helping to make learning experiences very special for our students.
Spelling Words for the Week:
cold, know, does, car, star, yard, born, thorn, story, sport, shark, dark
Synonym Review Quiz on Thursday, March 14th:
cry…weep freedom….emancipation friend….companion surprised….astonished
courage….bravery galaxy….star group backbone….spine yellow….amber
picture….illustration maybe…perhaps obedient….compliant shout….exclaim
Have a safe Spring Break,
Mrs. E
Our Texas Unit Study is going very well. Students enjoy learning new facts about their state and sharing what they already know about places they have visited on vacations and field trips. Our science unit study on vertebrates and invertebrates coincides quite nicely with the Texas Unit as we learn about the vertebrates of Texas…ie the large state mammal is the longhorn, etc.
We will return from Spring Break to Passion Week and the wonderful Easter Story. First graders will make their very own "Resurrection Eggs" visual aid so that they can share the story with family and friends. So, in preparation for this lesson and the egg hunt, please send the following:
1~ One dozen EMPTY plastic eggs numbered 1 - 12 in an egg carton.
2~ One dozen CANDY/TREAT-FILLED plastic eggs labeled with names of students in the following way: one egg labeled for each of the nine students in our class. Then the remaining 3 eggs are labeled with your student's name (Your student will actually have 4 eggs total with his/her name.) These eggs will be used for the Resurrection Egg Hunt on Thursday, March 28th. These eggs can be sent in a bag…a carton is not necessary. (If you fill the eggs with candy, please make sure each candy is individually wrapped securely to prevent ants from getting into it.)
Please ask if these instructions are not clear. The two dozen plastic eggs are due at school by Wednesday, March 27th. Students should also bring a bag or basket to collect their eggs during the hunt. Thank you for always helping to make learning experiences very special for our students.
Spelling Words for the Week:
cold, know, does, car, star, yard, born, thorn, story, sport, shark, dark
Synonym Review Quiz on Thursday, March 14th:
cry…weep freedom….emancipation friend….companion surprised….astonished
courage….bravery galaxy….star group backbone….spine yellow….amber
picture….illustration maybe…perhaps obedient….compliant shout….exclaim
Have a safe Spring Break,
Mrs. E
Sunday, March 3, 2013
March is the month set aside at CCS to study all about the great state of Texas. If you have something that represents our state, this is the time to send it to school on your child's show and tell day. I am especially proud to be a Texan, because just a few years ago the Texas legislature voted to add the phrase "one state under God" to the Texas pledge. We will be learning the pledge as well as the Texas Anthem all during the month. The Texas Unit will continue until the very last school day of March.
Eggs-citing Science News: The first grade class will have the opportunity to keep an egg incubator in our classroom for the next three weeks! If all was calculated properly, the chicks should be hatching during the week of March 25th (when we return from spring break). Stop by and see our science project!
Lifeway Christian Stores is promoting a new mini series called The Bible, which is to begin tonight, Sunday, March 3rd, at 7 pm on the History Channel. The first episode will include the stories of Noah and Abraham, both of which we studied last semester in class.
Spelling Words for the Week:
draw, law, saw, fall, small, lawn, yawn, come, coming, they, put, our
Synonym Pairs:
maybe………perhaps obedient……….compliant shout……..exclaim
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Eggs-citing Science News: The first grade class will have the opportunity to keep an egg incubator in our classroom for the next three weeks! If all was calculated properly, the chicks should be hatching during the week of March 25th (when we return from spring break). Stop by and see our science project!
Lifeway Christian Stores is promoting a new mini series called The Bible, which is to begin tonight, Sunday, March 3rd, at 7 pm on the History Channel. The first episode will include the stories of Noah and Abraham, both of which we studied last semester in class.
Spelling Words for the Week:
draw, law, saw, fall, small, lawn, yawn, come, coming, they, put, our
Synonym Pairs:
maybe………perhaps obedient……….compliant shout……..exclaim
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Monday, February 25, 2013
It is hard to believe that this is the last week of February! Friday is March 1st, and the calendars that were sent home at the beginning of this month for Teeth Brushing are due. On Friday I will also send home a March Reading Log for your first grader to record all the interesting things he/she is reading during this month. Remember you can log books, stories, articles, etc....whatever is being read, and don't forget to include all that you read as a family as well.
Friday is also Cowboy Day! Western attire is permitted (jeans, cowboy hats, etc.), but if your student wears boots, please send his tennis shoes in his backpack to be used for PE. Lunch will be hotdogs, so if that is not a favorite, please pack a sacklunch for that day's lunch.
Since I was out for a couple of days last week, work on the North America maps was not completed. We hope to be sending those home this week. All astronomy projects will be completed this week and coming home as well. Please enjoy your student's narrative about what she has learned. Tonight (Monday) is a full moon. There are only a set number of these you will be able to see in your life time, so don't miss a single one, and make a point to share them with your children!
Spelling Words for the Week:
February, I'll, he'll, she'll, we'll, you'll, it'll, super, silent, tiny, tiger, table
Synonym Pairs for the Week:
backbone...spine yellow.....amber picture......illustration
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Friday is also Cowboy Day! Western attire is permitted (jeans, cowboy hats, etc.), but if your student wears boots, please send his tennis shoes in his backpack to be used for PE. Lunch will be hotdogs, so if that is not a favorite, please pack a sacklunch for that day's lunch.
Since I was out for a couple of days last week, work on the North America maps was not completed. We hope to be sending those home this week. All astronomy projects will be completed this week and coming home as well. Please enjoy your student's narrative about what she has learned. Tonight (Monday) is a full moon. There are only a set number of these you will be able to see in your life time, so don't miss a single one, and make a point to share them with your children!
Spelling Words for the Week:
February, I'll, he'll, she'll, we'll, you'll, it'll, super, silent, tiny, tiger, table
Synonym Pairs for the Week:
backbone...spine yellow.....amber picture......illustration
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, February 17, 2013
This week in geography, the students will finally be putting together their North America maps. When these maps find their way home, please display them in a prominent place…..a lot of learning went into this project, and the first graders are very proud to demonstrate what they know.
To celebrate this week of Presidents Day, your student will hear the biographies of the four presidents honored on Mount Rushmore. We have already made a little booklet about the life of Abraham Lincoln, and the other presidents are very interesting also. Ask them to tell you about our science experiment …..shining dull pennies.
Thank you all for helping to make last week's Valentine party so special. The children enjoyed sharing their treats with each other and with me. Thank you to Mrs. Sellers for giving me the afternoon off so that I could have an anniversary evening with Mr. E! I am truly blessed with such wonderful CCS parents. The other teachers expressed their gratitude as well for the super breakfast you provided on Friday. Muchas Gracias!
Spelling Words for the Week:
he's, she's, it's, I'm, we're, you're, even, music, pilot, pony, baby, paper
Synonym Pairs:
surprised……astonished brave……….courageous galaxy……..star group
Blessings,
Mrs. E
P.S. Please don't forget to send in worn out blue jeans if you have any to donate to our Texas Unit. I have already started to prepare our Texas Books.
To celebrate this week of Presidents Day, your student will hear the biographies of the four presidents honored on Mount Rushmore. We have already made a little booklet about the life of Abraham Lincoln, and the other presidents are very interesting also. Ask them to tell you about our science experiment …..shining dull pennies.
Thank you all for helping to make last week's Valentine party so special. The children enjoyed sharing their treats with each other and with me. Thank you to Mrs. Sellers for giving me the afternoon off so that I could have an anniversary evening with Mr. E! I am truly blessed with such wonderful CCS parents. The other teachers expressed their gratitude as well for the super breakfast you provided on Friday. Muchas Gracias!
Spelling Words for the Week:
he's, she's, it's, I'm, we're, you're, even, music, pilot, pony, baby, paper
Synonym Pairs:
surprised……astonished brave……….courageous galaxy……..star group
Blessings,
Mrs. E
P.S. Please don't forget to send in worn out blue jeans if you have any to donate to our Texas Unit. I have already started to prepare our Texas Books.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Lent: Growing Closer to God!
The children and I also talked about the story of Jesus in the Wilderness from Matthew 4:1-11. See if your child remembers the 3 temptations of Christ.
All the children are coming home with a little pipe cleaner pretzel. If you would like to see the story and tradition they learned about, you can retell the story below to your child or have them tell it to you.
Angelo and the Pretzel
A long time ago, there was a monk in Italy named Angelo. Angelo worked in the monastery kitchen baking bread.
One morning, Angelo began to bake the day's bread. Since it was Lent, he didn't put any butter, eggs or sugar into the dough.
While the bread was in the oven, Angelo sat down to think and pray. The children in his parish didn't seem to be learning their prayers. He wished he could come up with a clever way to help them remember. As Angelo thought, he rolled a leftover piece of dough between his fingers.
He put the dough on a pan and baked it. Angelo got busy cleaning the kitchen and let the dough bake too long. But when he tasted it, he decided it was delicious.
That afternoon, Angelo baked an entire batch of pretiolas. When the children came to the bakery to visit him, he gave the pretiolas to those who knew their prayers.
And that's the story of a monk named Angelo and the very first pretzel.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
We had a great field trip to the rodeo last week, and several students expressed an interest in learning how to do an event they saw there. Our class book about the Rodeo has now been published, so the next time you are in the classroom, be sure to ask to see it!
In science we are continuing our unit on Astronomy. This week your student will be taking home a Solar System mobile and maybe even a Star Gazer showing several constellations. We tried to find the most up to date information about space exploration, since new discoveries are being made every year, so your first grader may have some new info to share with you!
In History we are learning interesting facts about US presidents. The presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore are of special interest as well as the coins and bills representing them. Did you know that special pennies were minted in 2009 to show the periods of Abraham Lincoln's life? You are in for a treat…listen to your student share all he/she is learning about presidents.
Spelling Words for the Week:
always, because, been, penny, pennies, candy, candies, bunny, bunnies, dry, dries, dried
Synonym Pairs for the Week:
cry….weep friend……..companion freedom……emancipation
Happy Valentine's Day!
Mrs. E
In science we are continuing our unit on Astronomy. This week your student will be taking home a Solar System mobile and maybe even a Star Gazer showing several constellations. We tried to find the most up to date information about space exploration, since new discoveries are being made every year, so your first grader may have some new info to share with you!
In History we are learning interesting facts about US presidents. The presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore are of special interest as well as the coins and bills representing them. Did you know that special pennies were minted in 2009 to show the periods of Abraham Lincoln's life? You are in for a treat…listen to your student share all he/she is learning about presidents.
Spelling Words for the Week:
always, because, been, penny, pennies, candy, candies, bunny, bunnies, dry, dries, dried
Synonym Pairs for the Week:
cry….weep friend……..companion freedom……emancipation
Happy Valentine's Day!
Mrs. E
Sunday, February 3, 2013
In two weeks we will be having our spring semester Parent/Teacher Conferences. I always enjoy these moments with the parents of my students, to share insights and compare notes about how our little ones are developing and growing right before our eyes. Please be on the lookout for an email from me to sign up for your conference times. Hope to see each of you on February 18, Presidents' Day.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, so on Monday, February 4th, I will send home a chart for my students to log every time they brush their teeth during this month. Scientists tell us that it takes about three weeks to form a HABIT, so if your first grader does not yet have the habit of brushing without being reminded, maybe this month of "dental homework" will do the trick!
February is also National Black History Month. Throughout the month, we will be reading the biographies of various very courageous African-Americans who stood for what was right during their lifetimes. Hopefully, these lessons will initiate some good conversations at home about what it means to stand for righteousness when the majority of people around you are unwilling to. How to stand alone is a very important lesson that will serve our students all of their lives.
Play is the work of childhood. I have shared that statement with many parents over the years, since early childhood development has been a fascinating area of study for me for the last 25 years. I have found a twelve minute YouTube video that summarizes my philosophy on the benefits and importance of childhood play. Please take a few minutes to watch this video before our conference on the 18th, because I would like to discuss it with you.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=oiDV6uOY9QI&desktop_uri=%3Fv%3DoiDV6uOY9QI
Spelling Words for the Week:
their, now, angry, angrier, angriest, windy, windier, windiest, hay, gray, away, clay
Spelling Rule: When adding the endings -er and -est to words ending in "y," the "y" changes to "i" first, then the endings are added. The "i" will have the same sound the "y" does in the base word.
Review Week for 12 Synonym Pairs: (matching quiz on 2-8-13)
genesis…………...beginning smart…………....clever travel……..migrate
red………………..crimson forever……...…..eternal sleep………hibernate
warm-blooded……endothermic underwater….....submerged cold………frigid
cold-blooded……..exothermic trail…………….passage blue………azure
Blessings,
Mrs. E
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, so on Monday, February 4th, I will send home a chart for my students to log every time they brush their teeth during this month. Scientists tell us that it takes about three weeks to form a HABIT, so if your first grader does not yet have the habit of brushing without being reminded, maybe this month of "dental homework" will do the trick!
February is also National Black History Month. Throughout the month, we will be reading the biographies of various very courageous African-Americans who stood for what was right during their lifetimes. Hopefully, these lessons will initiate some good conversations at home about what it means to stand for righteousness when the majority of people around you are unwilling to. How to stand alone is a very important lesson that will serve our students all of their lives.
Play is the work of childhood. I have shared that statement with many parents over the years, since early childhood development has been a fascinating area of study for me for the last 25 years. I have found a twelve minute YouTube video that summarizes my philosophy on the benefits and importance of childhood play. Please take a few minutes to watch this video before our conference on the 18th, because I would like to discuss it with you.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=oiDV6uOY9QI&desktop_uri=%3Fv%3DoiDV6uOY9QI
Spelling Words for the Week:
their, now, angry, angrier, angriest, windy, windier, windiest, hay, gray, away, clay
Spelling Rule: When adding the endings -er and -est to words ending in "y," the "y" changes to "i" first, then the endings are added. The "i" will have the same sound the "y" does in the base word.
Review Week for 12 Synonym Pairs: (matching quiz on 2-8-13)
genesis…………...beginning smart…………....clever travel……..migrate
red………………..crimson forever……...…..eternal sleep………hibernate
warm-blooded……endothermic underwater….....submerged cold………frigid
cold-blooded……..exothermic trail…………….passage blue………azure
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Sunday, January 27, 2013
We enjoyed having our dads and other family members for Doughnuts for Dads last Friday! Don't forget to complete the Super Bowl assignment in their football books. Those books already went home and should be returned to school by next Friday, February 1st, when we'll have our Super Bowl celebration. On that day the students will share their family's team NAME, COLORS, and HELMET DESIGN with the rest of the class. We learned that every football team is named for a special reason, so each student should be able to explain the reason behind the mascot he chose for his family team. Family members can help with this presentation and make it as creative as they want. This week we will also be learning all about Roman Numerals, because the Super Bowls are always announced with these wonderful symbols. The students enjoy learning a "secret code" that others may not know or understand completely. Please ask your children about what they are learning about Super Bowl XLVII.
In preparation for the great TEXAS Unit we will have in March, please send any old blue jeans that are too worn out for Goodwill. We will be covering our Texas books with denim, and they will be more special if we reuse our old clothes. Any child or adult jeans that can be cut up will be wonderful. The deadline for these donations is Friday, February 15th.
Ash Wednesday is February 13th. Please notify me if your child will not participate in the ceremony in Chapel on that day.
SPELLING WORDS : January, down, too,work, many, first, by, try, fly, belly, jelly, smelly
Spelling Rule: Sometimes "y" can be a vowel and make the long i or long e sound.
Synonym Pairs:
endothermic…….warm-blooded trail……..passage blue…..azure
Note…On February 8, students will take a matching quiz on the 12 pairs of synonyms we have had so far.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
In preparation for the great TEXAS Unit we will have in March, please send any old blue jeans that are too worn out for Goodwill. We will be covering our Texas books with denim, and they will be more special if we reuse our old clothes. Any child or adult jeans that can be cut up will be wonderful. The deadline for these donations is Friday, February 15th.
Ash Wednesday is February 13th. Please notify me if your child will not participate in the ceremony in Chapel on that day.
SPELLING WORDS : January, down, too,work, many, first, by, try, fly, belly, jelly, smelly
Spelling Rule: Sometimes "y" can be a vowel and make the long i or long e sound.
Synonym Pairs:
endothermic…….warm-blooded trail……..passage blue…..azure
Note…On February 8, students will take a matching quiz on the 12 pairs of synonyms we have had so far.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Saturday, January 19, 2013
First graders are enjoying the Winter Unit very much. We went "ice fishing" this past week, and we are enjoying the adventures of Jack London's White Fang.
In math we are slowly beginning to memorize subtraction facts. You would be so surprised to see how fast the students are with addition math facts, and they are eager to master the subtraction problems with the same accuracy and speed. Please see the Saxon Math Newsletter that just went home to see what is in store in the next few weeks in math. I am so proud of these first graders!
Our room mothers will be contacting each of you to let you know what is needed for our classroom in the next few months. I would appreciate your help in planning some interesting events for our students. Your involvement is crucial. The Gala is scheduled for February 22nd, and we still need to plan a class project. Please help us with suggestions and volunteer to make our contribution to the Gala memorable. The deadline for our class project is February 15th!
Spelling Words for the week:
one, new, didn't, isn't, aren't, cleaner, cleanest, longer, longest, cupcake, bathtub, weekend
Spelling Rules: - contractions - the apostrophe usually takes the place of the "o" in "not"
- compound words - combine two complete words to make a compound word
Synonym Pairs:
underwater…….submerged cold…….frigid warm-blooded……endothermic
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
Blessings,
Mrs. E
In math we are slowly beginning to memorize subtraction facts. You would be so surprised to see how fast the students are with addition math facts, and they are eager to master the subtraction problems with the same accuracy and speed. Please see the Saxon Math Newsletter that just went home to see what is in store in the next few weeks in math. I am so proud of these first graders!
Our room mothers will be contacting each of you to let you know what is needed for our classroom in the next few months. I would appreciate your help in planning some interesting events for our students. Your involvement is crucial. The Gala is scheduled for February 22nd, and we still need to plan a class project. Please help us with suggestions and volunteer to make our contribution to the Gala memorable. The deadline for our class project is February 15th!
Spelling Words for the week:
one, new, didn't, isn't, aren't, cleaner, cleanest, longer, longest, cupcake, bathtub, weekend
Spelling Rules: - contractions - the apostrophe usually takes the place of the "o" in "not"
- compound words - combine two complete words to make a compound word
Synonym Pairs:
underwater…….submerged cold…….frigid warm-blooded……endothermic
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Since much of the world celebrates Christmas on January 6th, or Day of the Kings, first graders observed Epiphany last week by sharing a King's Cake. This delicious pastry is circular (like a crown), and a baby Jesus figurine is hidden inside. Traditionally, in Mexico, the person who finds the baby in his piece of dessert will invite the celebration to continue in his home on February 2nd, Dia de la Candelaria. Students enjoy learning about traditions from around the world, and next week CCS will set aside International Day to learn some new customs from another cultures. In our classroom this is a common practice all through the school year.
In our North America Unit this week, the focus will be on the Inuit Tribes of the North. Their adaptation to a hostile climate is an interesting study, especially since it will coincide with the science lessons of insulation and Arctic animals. We are erecting a large igloo in the classroom to set the mood for our winter units, so please send any empty plastic milk/water gallon jugs to add to this project. Come by the classroom to see what all the excitement is about!
Spelling words for this week: were, would, could, some, each, teach, beach, eat, treat, road, toad, load.
Reading Rule: CVVC Words…When a word has two vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent.
Synonyms: red………...crimson
forever…….eternal
sleep………hibernate
Blessings,
Mrs. E
In our North America Unit this week, the focus will be on the Inuit Tribes of the North. Their adaptation to a hostile climate is an interesting study, especially since it will coincide with the science lessons of insulation and Arctic animals. We are erecting a large igloo in the classroom to set the mood for our winter units, so please send any empty plastic milk/water gallon jugs to add to this project. Come by the classroom to see what all the excitement is about!
Spelling words for this week: were, would, could, some, each, teach, beach, eat, treat, road, toad, load.
Reading Rule: CVVC Words…When a word has two vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent.
Synonyms: red………...crimson
forever…….eternal
sleep………hibernate
Blessings,
Mrs. E
Monday, January 7, 2013
Some years my winter unit is not very convincing without a lot of imagination. Migration, hibernation, and insulation experiments require lengthy explanations which are not fully understood when the lowest temperatures don't fall below 60 degrees. With all that in mind, I am very grateful for this wintry spell that we have enjoyed for several weeks now, even though the near freezing temperatures make outdoor visits brief. Thank you, God, for winter!
We welcomed a new student to our class today! Clara has joined the first grade class, and we are so happy to add another girl to our class roster. Welcome, Clara! We are so glad God sent you to Texas.
The January calendar will be sent out asap. We are adjusting the calendar to include a new student to the chore list and show-n-tell schedule.
Spelling words for this week are…want, very, one, new, deep, keep, sleep, pain, rain, train, boat, coat.
SOMETHING NEW!
Synonym List:
beginning………genesis
travel……………migrate
smart……………clever
The synonym quiz at the end of the week will be a matching activity, so spelling is not an issue to learn new synonyms. Please try to use these words in conversation, so that first graders will have an opportunity to "show off" big words in their speech! We will start off with only three synonyms per week and then add more as the semester continues. Every five weeks the students will be assessed on all the synonyms from the previous four weeks.
Happy Winter!
Mrs. E
We welcomed a new student to our class today! Clara has joined the first grade class, and we are so happy to add another girl to our class roster. Welcome, Clara! We are so glad God sent you to Texas.
The January calendar will be sent out asap. We are adjusting the calendar to include a new student to the chore list and show-n-tell schedule.
Spelling words for this week are…want, very, one, new, deep, keep, sleep, pain, rain, train, boat, coat.
SOMETHING NEW!
Synonym List:
beginning………genesis
travel……………migrate
smart……………clever
The synonym quiz at the end of the week will be a matching activity, so spelling is not an issue to learn new synonyms. Please try to use these words in conversation, so that first graders will have an opportunity to "show off" big words in their speech! We will start off with only three synonyms per week and then add more as the semester continues. Every five weeks the students will be assessed on all the synonyms from the previous four weeks.
Happy Winter!
Mrs. E
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